The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, or IPMAN, has refuted claims that it intends to shut down business if the government implements the N195 per litre pump price.
The public was urged to disregard the information in a statement released on Monday by National Operations Controller Mike Osatuyi.
On February 3, Mojeed Adesope, the Ibadan Depot’s publicity officer, demanded that IPMAN filling stations that were charging more than the allowed amount for petrol be shut down.
Adesope claimed that because of the high ex-depot price, dealers, in particular independent marketers, were uncomfortable with the government’s mandate.
However, Osatuyi made a suggestion that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd., or NNPCL, was setting up the logistics to begin providing gasoline directly to IPMAN members.
He urged members to sell petrol to Nigerians, assuring the association would not undermine national security by hoarding the product.
“Apart from IPMAN members loading at DAPPMAN depots in Abule-Ado, Ijegun, Lagos, DAPPMAN has also agreed to sell petrol at N172 per litre to IPMAN members.”
The official also disclosed lPMAN would soon load at NIPCO and MRS depots massively for South West and North West.
He however appealed to the Petroleum Tanker Drivers, PTD, under the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Worker, NUPENG, to reduce transportation costs.